My son wants to buy the Canon waterproof P&S. B&H lists the Shure Shot A1 at $135; Ritx has the Sure Shot WP1 for $70. The two cameras look identical, and the specs seem identical. Is there a difference between these two cameras? Is the WP1 just a renamed A1? If so, why the disparity in price? I've checked Canon's website, but they only list the A1.

TIA, Dave

-- Dave Beekman (beekmand@up.lib.mi.us), July 12, 1999

Answers

The WP1 is only weather proof, not water proof. It does look identical to the A1. The discussion on the photo.net Q and A is there somewhere, but the educated guesses can be easily repeated. The main suspicion was that the WP1 is just an A1 whose water proofing didn't pass inspection. It was cheaper to sell it at a discount than to fix it. No one had any proof of this, but it makes sense, and actually says something good about the A1's water proofing. I've never seen them advertised anywhere but Ritz, but I seem to remember a thread about someone getting one from B&H or Adorama, so I don't think it is a Ritz only product.

I also don't think the WP1 is discontinued, although it may be. I think it is actually a newer model than the A1.

-- Brad (bhutcheson@iname.com), July 13, 1999.

I believe this discussion has taken place before, but I can't find the specific thread. I want to say that the outcome was that:

• The WP1 is weather resistant, not waterproof;
• The WP1 has been discontinued.

Regardless, here are a few threads from the Nature Forum and photo.net proper which may help you: htt p://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=00059A, htt p://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0009Ps, htt p://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=00096M, and htt p://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000DsH.

Also, I'd suggest you try asking this in the regular Q&A forum; you may get some more responses...

-- Scott (bliorg@yahoo.com), July 13, 1999.

Thanks for your responses. 14 year old son is rethinking the whole thing.

-- Dave Beekman (beekmand@up.lib.mi.us), July 13, 1999.